Trimming device for sewing-machines



W. A. NEELY, DECD. 1. s. RICHARDSON. Annmlsrmon. TRIMMING DEVICE FOB SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED ocLzs. 1918.

1,385,329. Patented July 19, 1921.

1 v2 sHEEs-sussr 1. ,1

W. A. NEELY, DECD. 1. s. mcmmosou. ADMINISTRATOR.

TBIMMING DEVICE FDR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 26' I9I`8- Patend July 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-s115512.

Inventor e/Neely,

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

S. RICHARDSON ADMINISTRA- DECEASEID.

TRIMMING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Iatcnt.

Patented July 19, 192]..

4Application filed ctober 26, 1918. Serial No. 259,754.

To all 'wlw/m, fit may conce/Mt i Be it known that l, VVILLLTM A. Ninety, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynn, in the county ot' Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Trimming Devices for tzeivingsMachines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying draw-- ings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to that class of sewing machine under-trimming attachments commonly known as horizontal under-edge trimming attachments wherein the lower of two pieces of material. being sewed is trimmed oil? under and back of the edge of the upper piece. My invention has for its object useful improvements on that form of horizontal undenedge trimming attachments represented in United `Stateslatent 619,783, dated Feb. 2l, 1819,

to Philip Diehl. and Martin Hemleb, to which reference may be had for a more detailed understanding of the operativerelationship of the elements employed. My

invention provides particularly the improvements on United States patent referred to of trimming in a direct line parallel to the line of feed of the marhine, mechanical line adjustment of the knife and throat plate, and the ability to accomplish. various iorms of trimming on any onemachine with one attachment by the change of. knife `and throat plate. Ialso provide a mechanical organization insuring ease of movement and durability. `A modification of my invention is shown in Figures 5, 6 and.

7 ofthe accompanying drawings wherein the blade of the knife stands at an angle to its horizontal portion, thus providing a bevel cut which is desirable in. some classes of under-edge trimming. A suitably beveled. throat plate is shown; also a blade follower and edge guard.

y These and other features` of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, While its `scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the drawings: l `Fig. `1 shows a plan view ot' a trimming attachment embodying one form ot the invention and equippedvvith a trimming blade 'in a so-called horizontal and throat plate suitable Yfor carrying out the under-edge trimming method employ ing the perpendicular cut; I

F 1g. 2 is a perspective view ot' the trimming blade employed in the trimming device of Fig. l.; *i

Fig. 2** is an enlarged crossrection of an upper with its lining stitched thereto trimmed. by the blade shown in F ig. 2 with an under-edge perpendicular trimming cut;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ot' a trimming blade which may be used i'or trimming with a beveled under-edge trimming cut in connection with the throat plate shown in Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section ol. an upper With its lining stitched thereto, the latter trimmed by the bln de sh own in liig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan vieiv of the trimming attacliment shown in Fig. l, but equipped `with the trimming knife sho Wn. in .F 3 together With a throat plate and edge guide suite le for trimming with the beveled under cut;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation of the device shown in Fig. 5 taken on the line G-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the trimming attachment shown in F i g. partly broken away and with the blade carrier and carrier guides 'removed to show the articulated actuating connections;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal. sectional. elevation taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a detail in crosssection showing the blade carrier`r taken on the line 5)--9 in `Fig. 6.

. Referring to the drawings and to the specific embodiment of the invention therein disclosed, l have shown one `form ot the in` vention embodied lor illustrative purposes type of trimming device. This carried by a suijiporting plate l. which is arranged to he set into the Work rest of the sewing machine flush with the top thereof and has adjustably supporting thereon the throat plate 52. the latter presenting a dat supporting surface or rest for the material to be stitched. The throat plate ie provided with. an opening through which the usual feeding foot or dog (indicated at F in dotted lines in Fig. of the sewing machine Works. and with the needle hole 4. through which the needle (indicated by dotted lines at N in Fig. 6) passes. ln the operation of the machine the upper i ce is fed along by the movement of the feed.

catory movement parallel to the throat plate or work rest and parallel to the direction of the feed of the material. vWhile this movement of the trimming blade maybe provided by any suitable means, herein the blade is mounted upon a carrier 5 which is slidably mounted upon giiideways, the latter beine in the form of guide rods G mounted in the end supports 7 and 8 and arranged parallel to the throat plate or work rest and the direction of feed. The end supports 7 and 8 in turn are secured to the underlying carrier plate 9 which is rigidly connected to the main supporting plate 1. The details of the construction shown in Fig. 1 will be apparent from Figs. 6, 7 and 8, wherein the device differs from that shown in Fig. 1 only in the construction of the throat plate and details of the trimming blade and edge guide. l

The carrier 5 consists of end blocks 10 and 11 perforated to receive the guide rods 6 and provide a sliding support thereon, the end blocks being connected by the longitudinal connecting piece 12 which separates the end blocks by a sufficient distance to provide a rigid and accurately guided carrier structure.

To impart reciprocatory movement to the carrier and its trimming blade, the device is provided with a member which may be of any suitable constru( tion but herein is in vthe form of lever having the dependingyolre 13 (Figs. 6 and 8) which is adapted to embrace and have engaging contact with an actuating member on the sewing machine such as the oscillatory cam 14 customarily provided on sewing machines of this class. ln the specific form of the invention shown, the actuating yoke 13 is pivoted at 15 between the arms of a depending bracket 16 secured to the undei side of the supporting plate 1. Above its pivot point the actuating leveris provided,(Figs. G and 7) with an extension 17 which projects laterally and ,thence upward lbeneath the carrier block member-12 and is provided with a laterally extending pin 18 adapted to engage and reciprocate the carrier block.

To reciprocatively move the carrier through the oscillation of the pin 18, the

latter (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) normally fits within a recess formed in the latch piece 19,

which latter is secured to the under side of the carrier so that the oscillatory movement of the yoke lever and its pin 18 are converted into a rectilinear reciprocatory movement of the carrier block and its trimming blade.

rlhe latch piece 1S) 8) is pivoted to the carrier block at 20, but is provided at its free end with an upright arm 21 projecting through a slot in the carrier member 12 and terminating in a horizontal linger piece or handle at a height and position wherein it may be easily and quickly moved by the operator. The latch piece is normally held up close against the under side of the earrier piece 12 with its recess embracing the oscillatory pin 18 by means of the spring 23, one end of which is seeureiil to the carrier member 12 while the other end presses upward against a shoulder on the upright arm 21. lVhen the recess in the latch piece engages the oscillatory pin. therefore. the spring 9,2 holds the latch piece up and prefilll/'GS SllCll Gllgitftlll'lllli.

When the operative, however, desires to disconnect the trimming attachment from the actuator and throw it ont of operation, by depressing the linger piece Q1 and forcing the carrier in the direction of feed (or to the rightas viewed in Fig. S) the latch may be depressed and disengaged from the pin 1S and the entire carrier block with its trimming blade moved to the end of the guide rod 6 and disengaged entirely 'from the oscillatory actuator. ln the toi-m of the invention herein shown this disengagement of the 'trimming device may be secured by a mere depression of the linger pier-,e 21. the carrier being drawn to the end of the guide rods by a spring 24, one end of which is sccured to the plate fl and the other end to the carrier block. lliider these conditions the machine may continue its operation, but the only part of the trimming attachment which continues itsI movement is the oscillatory actuating yoke-lever.

lhen it is desired to reegage the trimming elem ent with its zmtuator, the operator, by means of the linger piece. draws the earrier block forward on the lguide rods (to the left as viewed in Fig. 8), at the saine time depressing the finger pieve slightlv. 'lhis causes the beveled tip of the latch member 19 to pass under the oscillatory pin, the latch picco snapping up to embrace the pin when the linger piece is released.

By imparting` a recnnoeatory moven'ient to the carrier and bladein a rectilinear line parallel to the feed of the machine. therel is provided a progressive shear cut between the trimming element and the trimming surface in line with the feed of the machine. As compared with a radial or oscillatory movement of the cutting blade in common use. this produces a` smoother and more even cut and avoids the frequent breakage lll() of blades caused by the lateral strain in cutting heavy material which is incidental to a radial movement where the blade departs from a direct line cut while the material is being firmly held by the needle and pressure foot ot the sewing mach-ine.`

In Fig. 2a `there is shown the results of trimming by the undersedge method employing the perpendicular cut, the beaded upper being represented at 30 and the lining with its trimmed o edge at 3l. One form of blade which is suitable for trimming with this method is illustrated in Fig. `2 and, as already described, is shown applied to the trimming device in Fig. l.

For under-edge trimming where the lining is trimmed with a beveled cut, a trimming element such as the blade B shown in Fig. 3 may be utilized, the trimmed stock being represented in Fig. 4. The beaded upper' `is there shown at 34 and the beveled trimmed lining at 35.

In connectien with the beveled trimming blade B an appropriately shaped throat plate such as is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 :is preferably employed. This has a beveled edge 40 against which the beveled knife blade B slides and extending for the length of the stroke of the knife blade part way the `length of the throat plate. The throat plate is provided with a slightly depressed extension shelf 4l, on which there is pivoted the spring-pressed supporting finger 42 having the beveled tip 43 which is yieldably pressed against the end of the beveled edge of the throat plate, and, while serving as a support for the severed strip of the lining, yields to permit the movement of the blade along the beveled edge of the throat.

In the described embodiment of the invention, improved means are provided for the adjustment of the throat plate edge and needle hole relative to the needle for determining the distance of cut from the stitches, also for the adjustment of the blade in provimity to the edge of the throat plate, the raising and loweringv of the blade relative to the various thicknesses of material, and compensation for the wear of the blade.

It may be desirable under some conditions, as when making the beveled under-cut, to avoid trimming close to the needle. With the described movement of the trimming blade, however, the region in which shearing takes place may be regulated by the length or adjustment of the blade so that means are provided through this arrangement, as illustrated bythe device shown in Fig. .5, whereby a horizontal progressive shear cut may be eifected wholly at the rear of the machine needle.

Referring first to the throat plate, means are provided whereby the latter may be adj usted laterally with accuracy to secure any desired relation of the needle hole to the needle. Vhile this may be secured in various ways, herein the throat plate 2 is movable between accurately shaped guideways formed by guides 50 formed by raised portions on the supporting plate l. The throat plate is secured to the supporting plate by binding screws 51, which pass through longitudinally slotted holes so that by loosening held between raised guideways 6l on the carrier 5, and secured to the latter by means of binding screws 62 passing through slotted holes in therintermediale carrier G0. This provides means whereby the blade may be adjusted laterally with precision at eX- actly right ingles to the line of its reciprocatory movement.

To adjustably raise and lower the blade the intermediate carrier 60 has a downturned overhanging end 63 which in turn forms guideways 64 tor an adjustable pla-te held in position on the guideways oit the intermediate carrier by a binding screw 7l passing through a slotted hole. This provides means for quickly and accurately raising and lowering the blade relative to the various thicknesses of material.

To provide means for quickly and accurately adjusting the blade backward and forward relative to the needle as required in practice and to compensate for the wear of the blade, the latter' has its rear end slotted as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and t, the two bifurcated portions resting between raised guideways 8() and 81 on the plate 7() and adjustably held in position thereon by the binding screw 82.

In the device illustrated in Fig. 5, I have shown a flexible or resilient edge guard S5 of usual construction secured to the plate 70 by means of the binding screw 86 and pin 87. In Fig. l, however', I have shown an edge guide 90 which is rigid but adjustable. The latter is lixedly secured to an upright pin 91, on which it may be adjusted by means of the set screw 92, either for height to adapt it to various thicknesses of the material or laterally to adapt it to varying distances from the needle. The supporting pin 91 for the edge guide is carried upon one arm 93 of an underlying lever which is pivoted to the supporting plate at 94, the other end oi the lever terminating in a finger piece 95. The latter is normally held in the position represented in Fig. l by means of a pin 96 which seats in a hole or depression in the underlying supporting plate. The lever is resiliently torn'ied, however, so that Aby lifting the linger piece the pin may be IVhile I have herein shown and described Y for illustrative purposes one specific form of the invention embodied in a horizontal type of trimming device, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to the detailsof construction or relative Aarrangement of parts or to the specic type of trimming device herein shown,y but that eX- tensive modifications may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a trimming device for sewing machines, the combination with a throat plate having a needle'hole, a horizontal under edge trimming Vblade movable in a rectilinear line parallel to the feed of the machine and Aguide ways in which the throat plate is adjustable laterally relatively to the needle hole.

2. In a trimming device for sewing ma chines, the combination with a horizontal under edge trimming blade, a throat plate having an edge cooperating with the trimming blade and a blade carrier having a movement in line with the feed of the machine and parallel to the :face of the throat plate and having also guide ways in which the blade is adjustable laterally toward or from the said edge of the throat plate.

3. In a trimming device tor sewing machines, the combination with a work rest, a horizontal under edge trimming blade, a blade carrier having a rectilinear movement parallel to the line of feed of the machine, said carrier having guiding means on which the blade is adjustable up or down to aerommodate it to diiierent thicknesses of matcrial to be trimmed.

4l. In a trimming device for sewing machines, the combination with a work rest, a

jhorizontal under edge trimming blade, a

blade carrier having a rectilinear movement and parallel to the line of feed of the machine, said carrier having guiding means vfor adjusting the blade in line with the feed of the machine to compensate for the wear Vof the blade.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my Vname to this specification.

WILLIAM A. NEELY. 

